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Record of Agarest War

Welcome RPG fans, to another edition of Nyx-Blogs-About-Breasts... I mean RPGs. In all honesty, this game is exceptionally hard to take seriously, but I'll do my best to give you guys a full and hehehe deep impression into what can be expected when playing Record of Agarest War. Also, big thanks to Aksys for having a hilarious campaign to market this title. Big sausages for all!

Any way, this is a chance for me to share with you guys my progress in this game. I'm not sure if anyone on staff outside of me and Firemyst are picking this game up and diligently playing it for review, but I figured I was looking for something to scratch my SRPG fix, and this seemed like it could be a fun choice.

Onward! To discuss boobs--- I mean, the game.

04/29/10 - 2 hours

Okay, so for those playing Agarest War on the PlayStation 3, one thing you'll notice is the lack of game clock. I dunno how much it bothers some people, but it's a massive pet peeve of mine. I like seeing how long I've played something, and for a game that boasts being over 60+ hours, the least you could tell me if I've hit said sixty hours. For the purpose of this blog, I'm simply going to estimate as much of the time as I can.

Having roughly played about two hours of the game, I can say this probably one of the first RPGs I've played in a long time where combat is primary focused on an Action Point (AP) system. Having played games like Final Fantasy Tactics or Growlanser, I'm more use to an HP/MP system, but after talking to Macstorm, we decided this game sounds a lot closer to Vandal Hearts II.

Combat takes place on a grind and has two phases. In the Move Phase, players position their party members as they see fit. When the Move Phase is over, both the player's party and the enemy move at the exact same time. This means that there's no real way to predict exactly where the enemy will move, though it's usually safe to assume that they will try to get as close to the party as possible. The Move Phase consumes Action Points (AP), and depending on where you move your characters determines how much AP they will have for that particular round. After the Move Phase is complete, the Action Phase commences.

In the Action Phase, both the party and the enemy can attack multiple times depending on the amount of AP they have. Sometimes it's possible to also do Link Attacks if your party members are Linked. To determine a Link Attack, characters must be positioned in a specific formation on the battle field. If done correctly, there will be a link made directly between the characters who can participate. Link Attacks are critical to success in some battles as they allow slower characters the chance to act more quickly and help deal more damage to enemies. It's pretty fabulous.

Actually, I'm enjoying the combat in this game a lot more than I thought I would. It feels as though it's like a standard SRPG, BUT there's a lot of differences that I can see either people enjoying or hating. I find it really funny, especially when I deal massive combo damage of doom.

Another small complaint I have, and it's related to combat is the faintness of the font when healing items are used or damage is taken. You can barely see it.

I'm still trying to figure out the story, but two hours isn't entirely enough to gauge what is exactly going on. I have collected party members though! I have an energetic elf named Ellis, and her monster companion who's name escapes me at the moment. Since this game is all about generations, it's key to keep your ladyfriends happy in this game, although I've had yet to see the effects of the Soul Breeding system in action. I can only hope I get more options besides Ellis in Generation, because right now, I'm not sold on her being my ladyfriend. Not one bit. She is pretty strong in battle though, I'll give her that.

Also, Agarest War has varied gameplay. Yes, this is shocking in SRPGs, as it's not just tactical combat on grids. There are actually exploration stages in the game, meaning players can enter these areas and collect loot and recruit monsters. Leonhardt can freely move around the exploration stages, and combat at that point becomes randomized. You don't really see this in SRPGs considering most SRPGs just have you complete a map and then move to the next one.

So yeah, these are just some of my initial impressions. Obviously, I've got ways to go in this game.

More soon!

06/07/10

Okay, so it's been a long time since I've touched this blog or Agarest War. Life has been pretty busy since the last update what with a lot of personal stuff, and of course having the advance review copy of Hexyz Force to take care of.

I decided to restart this on yesterday on Easy, as I originally had it on Normal and realized I was getting my butt kicked. With the change to Easy, I'm finding that I'm pulling my hair a lot less. Having since restarted, I've gotten a lot further than I did before. Yes, I'm still on generation one, and I've just gotten Vira-Lorr to join my party. I'm just getting out of some murky area, I don't remember what it's called.

I still don't like Ellis though. Call me an elf hatred, but by golly her Japanese voice hurts me so. The game clearly needs more Dyshana and Vira-Lorr though. Seriously, more.

I am still enjoying the combat, although the story from what I've gathered so far is a bit... "huh? bwah?" The localization is good, though I'm not feeling much from the characters. I hope that changes though.

Anywho, I'm off to go play more Agarest tonight. Considering this is a 40+ hour game, I worry I won't finish it until sometime in July depending on how much free time I have to play it. I do want to thank all the people who posted in the blog while it was dead for the month of May -- good to see you all being helpful and respectful towards each other.

Comments

Okay, since Nyx went through the details about the battle system, I'm going to explore the story. It's a great story. No, really, trust me. Okay, it could use some work.

You're a guy in an army. He's perfectly fine being a soldier, following orders and making mayhem, until one day he sees that a elf girl has to be killed. Our soldier decides this is the last straw and renounces everything for the sake of this girl. He fights some of his former friends and runs off with the girl.

By girl, I literally mean a young female, tween at most. This isn't a love interest. He just wants to do what's right. Commendable to be sure, but the guy could use a reality check.

Anyway, so he's running off with this girl to safety, but the leaders of the division block the path. He tells the girl run, promising to follow short after. He's then quickly cut down by the henchman of the leader, and left for dead.

But, amazingly enough, as he's approaching the brink of death, a busty women with straps of leather for a top (details are important), offers to save his life and grant him power beyond comprehension. All she wants in return is his soul. Oh, and the soul of his offspring he's bound to have, since his life was going so well up to this moment. Almost without hesitation, the man agrees. Not because of a good reason, like having power and might is awesome and desirable, but because he made a promise to a girl he just met.

so... Is the game actually good or is it for someone who just wants to look at still picks of Scantily Clad women all day... Cause I don't like that. It was one of the things I disliked about Cross Edge (I disliked more than that IN Cross edge but it was the first thing i disliked).

From what I've seen (and read) the combat looks like fun, which to me is the important part, but if everything in the game is just big breasted women and innuendos toward such things that would be a huge turn off to me.

Jeffery is right in that the story does get worse and more nonsensical as it goes. You will meet some interesting characters, but some of them don't get more than 3 or 4 scenes before you never see them again. It's really a shame, since I liked 3 or 4 of the more minor side characters more than some of the character you can recruit.

I found the gameplay to be much better that Cross Edge, but near the end of the game it degrades into "enemy kills you in one hit"-type battles. If your characters are spaced too closely together, expect to wiped out instantly.

If it matters to you, there are also slowdown issues on some battle screens and in the dungeons. I found the dungeons to be rather dull and feel like "filler." Also about the dungeons: While they do have random encounters, you can avoid them completely. Just don't stay in one room for too many jumps or steps. Every time you leave the room the rate resets, so you can just leave and re-enter the room to keep exploring for items.

I'd elaborate a bit more, but this is Nyx's "blog." I'll just state that while there are some problems (and the "dating sim" aspects are extremely shallow) I overall enjoyed the game. It's not perfect, but I spent a huge amount of time with the European version, despite the terrible localization.

Ok let me ask this then, Like Cross Edge does this games True Ending only appear after following a super specific path that you must follow with 100% accuracy or you miss out on all the fun from level 80 - 999? (called True End in Cross Edge) Because when I beat cross edge and learned I couldn't go to the real end game I wasn't very happy and had NO intention of doing it all over again.

Or can you experience it all without having to know about it before hand?

Ok let me ask this then, Like Cross Edge does this games True Ending only appear after following a super specific path that you must follow with 100% accuracy or you miss out on all the fun from level 80 - 999? (called True End in Cross Edge) Because when I beat cross edge and learned I couldn't go to the real end game I wasn't very happy and had NO intention of doing it all over again.

Or can you experience it all without having to know about it before hand?

The requirements aren't nearly as steep as Cross Edge's, but you likely will need a guide to attain the true ending. Basically, it works like this: Clear all True Ending requirements -> Beat game -> Extra scenes occur -> Beat bosses -> True Ending -> Able to access New Game+.

That's not to say you can't access New Game+ after beating it normally, but if you're on the True Ending path you can't access it until you've finished the extra content.

Well the True Ending in Cross Edge was an extra what... 40 somewhat hours of Gameplay that you don't get to do.

Is this one just a new boss?

6 required bosses and a lot of "optional" bosses.

It requires some grinding, but if you're on normal not a lot. I spent around 5-7 hours grinding to finish the bosses in Normal Mode. If you are on Hard Mode and go all the way down to the bottom of the Boundary Zone it will take a good deal more time. The bottom of the Boundary zone is only accessible in Hard Mode.

@ Jeffrey - Heh, I was having a brainfart when I wrote this because for the LIFE OF ME I couldn't remember what the name of the beast protector was, so thanks! He's pretty awesome.

@ Everyone else - I'll be frank - I'm not expecting much from this game in terms of story of the dating elements. In fact, I expected the dating element to be really shallow, if for the sole fact that whatever they did give me was going to be full of sexual innuendo and awkwardness. Then again, I'm a jerk about stuff. I think the combat so far is the best element of the game, and as I play more I'll try and elaborate as best I can. Two hours really isn't enough to explain the story in full. Hopefully next time I'll speak more in depth about what's going on in the game, dating-wise, and more combat goodness.

Also, even if it is my "blog" feel free to discuss as you wish. The point of the blogs is to generate discussion after all.

Well she isn't a love interest in t least the first 2 generations. (the manuel points this out), could be one of the later generations. I also have a big feeling that she has a little bit more to do with the whole soul Breeding thing cause from her profile which you unlock when you meet her and worse yet tells you <span class="spoiler">she stays with the family a long time</span>

28 years of gaming and still going strong
and now a mostly annoyed Father with first son. And now a father again to a second son :D

<span class="spoiler">Ellis is not a choice for Romantic interest until Generation 5. But at that point, you have the choice of every female character who hasn't been a wife choice in previous generations. For example, Dyshana if you're on the true ending path, Vira-Lorr, Ellis, the like.</span>

Hey guys, I'll have to put my Agarest adventure on hold at the moment as I'm working on a review game that has a strict deadline I need to try and hit. Hopefully, Firemyst is still playing this one, if not, once I'm doing with my current review game, I'll come back to this and we can discuss Ellis as jailbait or not jail bait some more.

What about when the creatures/characters are appearing on the battle does it not sometimes take a moment or two for them to appear. Yeah the transition to the battle doesn't take long however the loading of the battle is when they actually place your characters onto it. Its an interesting way of doing the battle loading.

Although it could be my system is dying, I stood it up right and I got RROD (this is funny), so I go to lay it down it slips and knocks just a little hard but it is now working. So as I have been saying FOR YEARS, upright systems = BAD

28 years of gaming and still going strong
and now a mostly annoyed Father with first son. And now a father again to a second son :D

So last night I finallly got to Generation 2 (and for those who are further awesome.)

Couple of things I have noticed

To get the trophy for marrying a girl they have to REALLY like you and you get an extra scene with them. I got an extra scene with Fyuria where she was wrapped in bedsheets ... thats awesome. Well I was able to Marry Elaine but because she didn't like me as much I didn't get teh trophy nor the extra scene. So I have a feeling the extra scene is important.

Also i've gotten all the DLC for this title (all of which is still free) so that means Ihave some extra "dungeons" and what not to explore so I'm doing those wanting to get all the chests since you can't go back.

There was also something else I was thinking of but I've seemed to have forgotten it. Any one else still playing this?

Oh as for the whole Ellis question she ends up looking older in Gen 2.

28 years of gaming and still going strong
and now a mostly annoyed Father with first son. And now a father again to a second son :D

I have it for my PS3 but haven't started yet. Are you following some kind of guide or just playing by ear? I know the path to the true end is somewhat specific, though not to the extreme as Cross Edge.

Just playing by ear, due to all the need for replay to get all trophies (and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the game) getting true ending first time through is not on my hit list. Enjoying the game is mroe important.

28 years of gaming and still going strong
and now a mostly annoyed Father with first son. And now a father again to a second son :D

Sorry to necropost but I need some advice as I'm just about to end Generation 1. Due to my habit of sticking to a team and leveling them to their best potential I stuck it out with the lead character, the three wives, Zerva and Ellis. Everyone else is pretty much warming the bench. Now I am told that since you also lose all 3 wives into the next generation, I'll be starting out Gen2 down 3 properly leveled people. Will this make the start of Gen2 impossible or significantly harder? It 'll suck greatly if I'll start Gen2 underpowered because I should have used the none-wives instead.

Sorry to necropost but I need some advice as I'm just about to end Generation 1. Due to my habit of sticking to a team and leveling them to their best potential I stuck it out with the lead character, the three wives, Zerva and Ellis. Everyone else is pretty much warming the bench. Now I am told that since you also lose all 3 wives into the next generation, I'll be starting out Gen2 down 3 properly leveled people. Will this make the start of Gen2 impossible or significantly harder? It 'll suck greatly if I'll start Gen2 underpowered because I should have used the none-wives instead.

All Generations have a sort of "warm up" period of ~5 battles that are very easy. I would assume it's meant to help this problem.

You will get an extra character at the beginning of Generation 2 who is leveled. But yep, you need to have non-wives leveled.